Social–ecological systems approaches are essential for understanding and responding to the complex impacts of COVID-19 on people and the environment

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is dramatically impacting planetary and human societal systems that are inseparably linked. Zoonotic diseases like COVID-19 expose how well-being inextricably interconnected with the environment to other converging (human driven) social–ecological crises, such as dramatic losses of biodiversity, land use change, climate change. We argue itself a crisis, but responses so far have not been inclusive ecological resiliency, in part because “Anthropause” metaphor has created an unrealistic sense comfort excuses inaction. Anthropause narratives belie fact resource extraction continued during business-as-usual continues cause widespread ecosystem degradation requires immediate policy attention. In some cases, measures further contributed problem reducing environmental taxes or regulatory enforcement. While (SES) experiencing reduced impacts, others what we term “Anthrocrush,” more visitors intensified use. varied causes impacts can be better understood lens. Social–ecological insights necessary plan build resilience needed tackle future crises. If society serious about building back from pandemic, must embrace set research informed by SES thinking.